Cotton-compress.



No. 665,347. l Patented Ian. I, I90I. H. REMBERT.

COTTON CUMPRESS.

(Application filed Mm'. 5, 1898.) (No Moden.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

A mi; 665,347.

Patented Ian. l, 190|. H. REMBERT.

COTTON GOMPRESS. (Application med Mm?. 5, 18am 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

NTTED STATES i ATENT EEICE.

'HENRY REMBERT, or HoUsToN, TEXAS, As'siGNoR or ONE-HALE To NicK wEEKEs, ED. MocARTnY, AND n. RIEDEL, or GALvEsToN, TEXAS.

CoTToN-coMPREss.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665.347. dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed March 5 1898.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern..

Be it known that I, HENRY REMBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Cotton-Compress, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton-compresses of that type commonly known as roller-compresses, and which are designed for the formation of a cylindrical or roll bale of cotton.

In cotton-com presses of the roller type, and particularly in compresses employing two com pressi ng rolls, it has heretofore been necessary to stop the feed of the bat from the condenser during the time that a finished bale is being wrapped and dropped from the press and also while the pressing mechanism is being readjusted to form another bale. This operation involves an objectionable interruption of the bat-supply and the consequent stoppage of the ginning apparatus. So, with a view of overcoming this objection, the present invention primarily contemplates improved means for carrying out a continuous operation of feeding, whereby it will be unnecessary to stop the condenser or any part of the ginning apparatus.

To this end the invention has for its object the provision of a bat collecting and feeding device forming what may be properly termed a bat-accumulator, and which shall provide simple and efficient means for collecting the supply of bat as it is delivered from the condenser during the time a finished bale is being wrapped and removed from the press and then refeeding the tem porarily-accumulated bat, together with the main supply of bat, to the pressing mechanism after the parts of the latter have been readj usted to provide for the formation of a new bale.

It is the purpose ofthe present invention to adaptthe batcollecting or accumulating device for use in connection with any form of cotton-compress in which the pressing mechanism has a fixed and a movable member.

With these and other objects in view,which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination,

Serial No. 6723686. (No model.)

and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a two-roll cotton-compress constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the positions of the different parts of the press at the completion of a bale. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the press with the parts adj usted in the positions they occupy when a new bale is about to be. 6o started. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of one end portion of the press, showing the mounting of the mechanism for automatically graduating the pressure on the bale. Fig. 4t is a detail side elevation of the press, 65 showing a modification of the pressure mechanism for graduating the pressure ou the bale. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the bat collector or accumulator and the adjacent portions of the press-frame. Fig. 6 is a transverse 7o sectional View on the line 6 6 of Fig. l.

In 'the drawings the improvements contemplated by the present invention are illustrated in connection with a two-roll cotton-compress, and referring particularly to these drawings the numeral l designates a press-frame of a rectangular form and supported by means of suitable legs 2 or other supporting-base in the usual elevated position. The press-frame l is provided in the opposite sides thereof with 8o the longitudinal guideways 3 and near one end has arranged at its opposite sides the fixed bearing-boxes 4, which receive the spindle extremities 5 of the horizontal fixed rotating compressing-roll 6, one of which spindie extremities has fitted thereon at one side of the frame a worm gear-wheel 7. The worm gear-wheel 7 for the fixed rotating compressing-roll 6 meshes with the threads of a wormshaft 10, arranged longitudinally of the press- 9o frame and journaied in suitable bearings l1 thereon, and said worm-shaft 10 has mounted thereon, preferably near one end, the beltpulley 12, which receives the belt, preferably driven directly from one of the shafts of the ginning apparatus.

The bale of cotton is formed between the fixed rotating compressing-roll 6 and the movable rotating compressing-roll 13, which latter roll is preferably of the same size as the roo roll 6, and both rolls are designed to rotate in the same direction and at the same peripheral rate of speed to provide for the formation of a cylindrical or roll bale of cotton. The movable rotating compressing-roll 13 is also arranged horizontally within the pressframe 1, in parallelism to the roll 6, and has the opposite spindle extremities 14 thereof journaled in the sliding bearing-boxes 15, mounted to slide within the longitudinal guideways 3 of the press-frame, and one of the spindle extremities 14 of the roll 13 has mounted thereon a worm gear-wheel 16.

The worm gear-wheel 16 is loose on the spindle extremity 14 and has a suitableclutch connection 17 therewith, so that after the completion of a bale the said worm gear-wheel 16 can be readily uuclutched from its shaft or spindle extremity and will be permitted to freely run longitudinally of the worm-shaft 10 when the movable compressing-roll 13 is being readj usted toits initial position to provide for commencing the formation of a new bale, It will of course be understood that when the movable compressing-roll 13 is in operation the gear-wheel 1b' is clutched to the shaft or spindle extremity 14, whereby the rotating worm-shaft 10 will provide for communicating to both compressing-rolls a rotation in the same direction and at the same rate of speed.

The sliding bearing-boxes 15 for the spindle extremities of the movable compressing-roll 13 have extended therefrom the horizontal sliding rack-bars 18, Working on the frame sides and having the teeth thereof meshing with the'piuions 19, mounted on opposite extremities of a pressure-shaft 20, arranged transversely of the press-frame, near the end opposite the compressing-roll 6. The transversely-arranged pressure-shaft 2O has mounted thereon between the oppositely-located pinions 19 a peripherally-grooved pressuredrum 21, having a conical portion 22 at one side and receiving in the grooves thereof the weight-rope 23, to the lower end of which is attached a pressure-weight 24.

In the operation of the press the bat of cotton which wraps about the core or core-rod of the press forces the movable roll 13 away from the fixed roll 6 as the bale increases in size, and by reason of the use of the pressure-drum 21 with the conical portion 22 means are provided for exerting only a light pressure on the roll of cotton when the bale tirst begins to form on the core and to rapidly increase this pressure until one-fourth of the completed bale is wrapped on the core. The conical drum portion 22 winds up the rope 23 thereon, and on account of the increased power required to wind the weighted rope 23 on the inclined surface of the said cone 22 the pressure of the movable roll 13 against the growing bale is necessarily automatically graduated, and this pressure increases until the weighted rope 23 reaches the grooves of the uniform portion of the drum 21, and by winding on this portion of the drum the weighted rope 23 will serve to maintain the maximum pressure on the bale until completed, thereby insuring a greater degree ot' density in the bale than has heretofore been possible.

While the preferred form of the pressure mechanism has just been described, the principle involved in this mechanism may be applied in different ways, such as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. ln this figure of the drawings the sliding bearing-boxes 15 for the spindle extremities of the movable roll 13 are illustrated as loosely bearing against one end of longitudinally arranged pressure screwshafts 25, arranged at opposite sides of the press-frame and rotating in the screw-boxes 2G, Iitted to the frame. The said pressure screw-shafts 25 have mounted on their ends opposite the ends bearing against the boxes 15 the peripherally-grooved pressure-graduating cones 27, corresponding to the conical drum portion 22 ot' the pressure-drum 21 and adapted to wind thereon the weighted ropes 23, similar to the rope previously described. In the modified construction of pressure mechanism involvingthe use of the pressure screwshafts 25 it will be observed that as the movable compressing-roll 13 is adjusted away from the roll 6 by the growing bale the screwshafts 25 will move outward through their boxes 26 and at the same time rotate, thereby rotating the cones 27 and winding up the ropes 23 thereon, thereby providing foi-graduating the pressure on the bale until completed.

In conjunction with the compressing-rolls 6 and 13 there is employed the usual core or core-rod 28, adapted to be arranged transversely within the press-frame between two compressing-rolls and provided at its extremities with the centering-sockets 29, detaehably receiving therein the inner pointed ends of the oppositely-located screw centering-pins 30. The centering-pins 30 are provided with threads of long pitch engaging with corresponding threads in the openings of the supporting-boxes 31, slidably mounted at opposite sides ofthe press-frame and havinga sullicient play to accommodate the'movement of the core-rod as the same adjusts itself to maintain a central position between the two rolls. The screw centering-pins 30 carry at their outer ends short crank-arms 32, having connected thereto one end of the connecting-bars 33, having a slotted connection 34 with roekarms 35, mounted on opposite extremities of the adjacent shaft 3G, arranged transversely of the press-frame, and one of said rock-arms 35 is extended into a lever 37, which is grasped by the operator when it is desired to unscrew the centering-pins 30 from the ends ot' the core or core-rod 28. At this point it will be observed that the long pitch-threads of the screw centering-pins 30 render it necessary to only give these pins a quarter-turn to provide for withdrawing their inner ends from IIO the extremities of the core-rod, so that by grasping the lever 37 and moving the same in one direction the core-rod can be quickly released from the press-frame, so as to permit a completed bale to be dropped from the press, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The bat or sheet of cotton which is fed to the core or core-rod of the press passes from the usual condenser 38 over theinclined chute 39, which inclined chute is provided at its lower end with a hinged delivery-board 40, which is arranged to deliver the cotton either directly to the core-rod or to the hat collecting and feeding device, which device is intended to temporarily collect the accumulation of bat during the period the finished bale is being wrapped and removed from the press and then refeedin the accumulation of bat to the pressing mechanism, thereby obviating the necessity ot' stopping the condenser or any other part of the ginning apparatus.

To provide for the support of the bat eollecting and feeding device, a pair of supporting-uprights 41 are arranged, respectively,

at opposite sides of the press-frame beyondA the ends of the fixed compressing-roll 6, and between the upper ends ot' the supportinguprights 41 and directly above the said roll 6 is supported an oscillatory apron-frame 42. The oscillatory apron-frame 42 comprises, essentially, a pair of parallel side arms 43, pivoted intermediate their ends to the uprights 41 and connected at their opposite ends by the oppositely-located apron-rollers 44 and 45, respectively, on which rollers winds and unwinds the bat collecting and feeding apron 46. The extremities of this apron are fastened to the oppositely-located rollers 44 and 45, so that said rollers when rotated will wind np the apron thereon in the same direction, and thereby providefor properly collecting the accumulation ot' bat and then refeeding the same to the core-rod of the press.

The oscillatory apron-frame 42 has a toggle-lever connection 47 with the hinged delivery-board 40 of the chute 39 to provide means for automatically adjusting the position ofv this board as the frame is oscillated to either of its operative positions, and said frame 42 has suitably connected therewith at a point centrally between the opposite rollers 44 and 45 an upwardly-disposed weighted lever 48, which is grasped to oscillate the frame in either direction and to hold either roller 44 or 45 in rm frictio-nal contact with the upper side of the compressing-roll 6 directly therebelow.

After a bale has reached its full growth and is ready to be wrapped and discharged from the press the bat of cotton is severed from the bale and the apron-frame 42 tilted to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which position of the frame the apronroller 44 is in frictional contact with the compressing-roll 6 and the hinged delivery-board 40 drawn to a position for directing the bat of cotton directly onto the bat collecting and feeding apron 4U. As the roller 44 rotates, the apron 46, together with the bat of cotton, is wound thereon, thereby making a roll of cotton about the roller 44, with the separate layers of the apron separating the layers of the bat to prevent the latter from bnnching. In this manner the accumulation of bat is disposed of and temporarily collected, and when the finished bale has been wrapped and dropped from the press and the movable roll 13 is readjusted to its initial position the apronframe 42 is tilted to a reverse position, so as to `carry the roller 45 into contact with the fixed compressing-roll 6. At the same time the hinged delivery-board 40 will be thrown out to a position for directing the hat to the core-rod of the press. The rotation of the apron-roller 45 causes the apron 46 to wind up thereon from the roller 44 and at the same time unwinds the temporarily-collected roll of cotton,which is then delivered, together with the bat coming from the condenser, to the core-rod of the press. Of course when the temporarilycollected roll of cotton is completely delivered or fed from the apron 46 the apronframe can be tilted to an inoperative position.

While the invention has been shown applied to a two-roll cotton-compress, it is to be understood that the improvements herein described are susceptible to various modifications and combinations Without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is'claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism, a continuously-operating bat-supply, and means for temporarily collecting the bat in separated, non-contacting, layers during the inactivity of the pressing mechanism.

2. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism, a continuously-operating bat-supply, and means for temporarily collecting the bat in convolute, non-contacting, layers during the inactivity of the pressing mechanism.

3. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism, a continuously-operating bat-supply, and means for temporarily collecting the bat in separated, non-contacting, layers during the inactivity of the pressing mechanism,and then refeeding the collected bat in a continuous sheet, together With the main supply, to the pressing mechanism.

4. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism, and a bat-collector having a movement into either of two operative positions, the bat-collector being operated in one of the positions by the pressing mechanism to collect the bat and in the other position to discharge it.

5. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism having compression-rolls, and a batcollector having a movement into either of two operative positions and adapted in each of said positions to have a direct contact with IOO IIO

one of said compression-rolls, whereby the said roll will operate the bat-collector alternately to collect and then discharge the bat.

G. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism, and a bat-collector shiftable alternately to either one of two operative positions with relation to one of the elements of the pressing mechanism, whereby the said element of the pressing mechanism may operate the bat-collector alternately to collect and then discharge the bat.

7. In a cotton-con'ipress, the combination with the pressing mechanism, of a bat-collecting apron arranged to temporarily collect the j bat during the inactivity of the pressing mechanism.

8. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism, and a bat-collecting apron having vmeans for temporarily collecting the bat and subsequently refeeding the same to the pressing mechanism.

9. In a cotton-compress, the pressing mechanism, the shiftable bat-collecting apron, and means for reversing the movement of the apron to respectively take up and refeed the bat.

10. In a cotton compress, the pressing mechanism, a tiltable bat-collecting apron, and means for actuating said apron in either of its operative positions from the same element of the pressing mechanism.

1l. In a cotton compress, the pressing mechanism having rolls, of a tiltable bat-collecting apron supported above one of the rolls and adapted to contact therewith in either of its operative positions, substantially as described.

12. In a cotton compress, the pressing mechanism having a fixed and a movable roll, a continuously-operating bat-supply, a suitably-supported apron, and means for operating said apron alternately in opposite directions for collecting the accumulation of bat during the inactivity of the pressing mechanism, and then feeding the collected bat, with the main supply, to such mechanism, substantially as described.

13. In a cotton compress, the pressing mechanism having a fixed and a movable roll, a continuonsly-operatiug bat-supply, an oscillatory apron-frame pivotally supported between its ends above the fixed roll and carrying oppositely-located apron-rollers, a bat collecting and feeding apron connected at its ends respectively to the opposite rollers, an adjusting device for tilting or oscillating the apron to carry either of its rollers in contact with the fixed compressing-roll, and means for delivering the bat to the apron during the inactivity of the pressing mechanism.

14. In a cotton compress, the pressing mechanism having a xed and a movable compressing-roll, an inclined chute leading from a condenser or other continuously-operating bat-supplyand having at its lower end a hinged delivery-board, an oscillatory apronframe supported between its ends above the fixed roll and carrying oppositely-located apron-rollers adapted to frictionally contact with said roll, an apron connecting the two rollers and winding and unwinding thereon, a weighted adjusting-lever connected at its lower end with said apron-frame at a central point between the rollers, and a toggle-lever connection between the said oscillatory apron-frame and said hinged delivery-board, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY REMBERT.

Vitnesses:

C. A. HoLT, Jr., LEE G. KNoLL. 

